Assisted Suicide - Research Proposal Example

Unless life has a certain quality or standard attached to it, it is not worth living. So for some reason, if this quality disappears, it is best for that individual to take a bow and make his exit. The pro-life groups argue, that life being the most valuable thing; one has to sustain life under all circumstances and at all costs. Legal verdicts, public opinions, ethical theories, political decisions, have all varied from time to time. This article will examine all these various aspects pertaining to assisted suicide, and take a stand in its favour, under certain terms and conditions Executive summary: Assisted suicide, in various forms, has been under debate from times immemorial.

Public opinion, legal viewpoints, medical discourses on this topic, all have given conflicting opinions, at some point of time or the other. An extremely controversial topic, it has produced divergent social, political, religious and ethical viewpoints, which deal with this issue of death and suicide. Murders are condemned by one and all, but owing to the sensitivity of the issue of assisted suicide, there has not been any clear cut definition or legal stand, on this aspect of mercy killing, leading to ambiguity and controversies.

Assisted suicide, where a physician prescribes the lethal dose, and a nurse or a relative administers it to the terminally ill patient, cannot be simply viewed in terms of criminal law and murder. Yet, various grave implications may arise from this concept of ‘mercy killing’ which often makes it difficult for the State to give it complete legal sanctions. However, some countries have gone ahead and provided legal sanctity to assisted suicide; while some have decided to ban it completely.

Most countries have chosen a middle path, and take a closely guarded approach towards it, allowing it, only under certain guidelines and conditions. This article will examine various legal, medical, political, religious and ethical discourses and issues, pertinent to this topic, and view both sides of the arguments that these groups present.